Independence Visitor Center Tours

1 Review

Located in the Independence National Historical Park beside Independence Hall, the 50,000-square-foot Independence Visitor Center welcomes travelers to the city of Philadelphia. Here guests can pick up various area maps and brochures; get free, timed tickets to Independence Hall (required from March to December); find public bathrooms and a variety of snacks; and connect to free WiFi.

The center is staffed by reps from the National Park Service, some of whom lead free tours of the Historical Park and Old City—these begin in the lobby. Short historical films are also shown at the center: Independence, a 30-minute film made by director John Huston in 1976 that illuminates Philadelphia's place in history during the 25 years following the American Revolution and the 15-minute Choosing Sides, which features modern-day teens reading letters written by post-Revolution-era teens.

Practical Info

The Visitor Center features an underground parking lot for easy access by car. On the ground floor, guests will find Philadelphia's official souvenir shop, which offers, among many other items, T-shirts and coffee mugs emblazoned with the city's signature logos.

Explore the best that Philadelphia has to offer on this hop-on hop-off tour of the city. Visit 27 of Philadelphia’s top attractions — like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the United States Mint — on a 90-minute loop in an open-top, double-decker bus. Select a single or multi-day pass, then board at any of the 27 stops and get to know the city in custom fashion, with live onboard narration. Learn about the history and heritage of one of America's oldest cities.

Explore the best that Philadelphia has to offer on this hop-on hop-off tour of the city. Visit 27 of Philadelphia’s top attractions — like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall — on a 1.5-hour loop. Select from a 1, 2 or 3-day pass. Board at any of the 27 stops and get to know the city in custom fashion, with live commentary. A route map and courtesy shuttle from Center City hotels are included.

Hear tales of prohibition and gangsters such as Al Capone and Leo Lanzetti on this 3-hour night pub crawl in Philadelphia. A spirited guide takes you to three taverns — savor a welcome beer, shot and snack, and then make use of drink specials at the places you visit. Good at trivia? Answer quickly and correctly and get more free beer. Don’t miss this lively night out on the town socializing and learning about Philadelphia’s dark side.

Explore Philadelphia at your own pace, with all-day tickets for a hop-on, hop-off bus tour that stops at 27 of the city’s top attractions. Enjoy views from an open-top, double decker bus as your experienced guide shares insider stories about Philadelphia history and culture. Choose the sites that interest you most, and stay for as much time as you want. Trace America’s history at Betsey Ross’ house to Ben Franklin’s Grave, or discover world-class shopping and the Philadelphia Museum of Art; take the chance to make the trip your own. 1-, 2-, and 3-day passes available.

Explore the best that Philadelphia has to offer on this hop-on hop-off tour of the city. Visit 27 of Philadelphia’s top attractions — like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall — on a 1.5-hour loop. Select from a 1- or 2-day pass, then board at any of the 27 stops and get to know the city in custom fashion, with live on-board commentary. After dinner (own expense), enjoy the city as it’s illuminated for the evening on a ‘Philly by Night Tour.’ Pickup and drop-off from select hotels included.

Explore three bars in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood on this guided, 3-hour, Oktoberfest Halloween and Haunted Tavern Tour. Sample beverages from marzen lagers to moonshine, and enjoy Halloween and Oktoberfest treats. Hear ghost stories and play trivia and drinking games while traveling through some of the city’s most haunted spots.